Journal
Damask rose water and deg bhapka: how traditional Indian rose water is made
What Damask rose water is, how deg bhapka distillation works, how distilled rose water differs from scented water, and how to use and store a rose water mist.
The Damask rose
The Damask rose (Rosa damascena) is the rose most prized for rose water and rose oil. Not every rose is the same: the Damask rose is valued for its richness in natural actives, which give it its distinctive fragrance and its soothing, hydrating feel on the skin.
Ruh & Ras sources its Damask roses from Hasayan, on the fertile alluvial plains of the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, where warm seasons nurture the fragrant Damask rose.
What is deg bhapka distillation?
Deg bhapka is the traditional way of distilling flowers in India, passed down through generations of distillers around Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, long known as India’s perfume capital.
Fresh rose petals go into a copper vessel called the deg, with water. The deg is heated at a slow, controlled pace, so the rose’s delicate scent survives. The rose-scented steam rises and travels through a bamboo pipe called the chonga into a receiving vessel called the bhapka, which rests in cool water. There the steam condenses back into rose water.
Distilled rose water and scented water
Rose water made this way is a distillate of the petals themselves. Some products sold as rose water are instead water with added rose fragrance. A label that names the rose species and the share of flower water, such as “98% Rosa Damascena Flower Water”, tells you which kind you are holding.
Ruh & Ras Rose Tonic Mist
The Rose Tonic Mist (100 ml, MRP ₹699) is 98% Damask rose water from Hasayan, distilled the deg bhapka way. Its full ingredients: Rosa Damascena Flower Water (98%) and a preservation system of citric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (2%). The preservatives are added for safety and stability, since any water-based product needs them once it is opened.
It comes in an amber bottle, because light can break down the delicate aroma compounds in rose water.
How to use and store it
Close your eyes and mist it evenly over your face and body, as often as you like, and let it absorb naturally. Use it as a toner after cleansing, mix it into a face mask or an ubtan, or carry it when you travel. It is for external use only; avoid direct contact with the eyes, and stop using it if irritation occurs.
Keep it away from sunlight, in a cool, dry place; for best results keep it refrigerated. Use it within 9 months of manufacture and within 3 months of opening. It is not edible.